Syria kidnappings terror: Find the cash or I will send his fingers

Kidnap is big business in lawless Syria. The father of one victim tells Hala Jaber of the chilling call he received

A rebel from the Free Syrian Army, which has been accused of kidnappings (Paulo Nunes dos Santos)

THE kidnappers were impatient for their ransom. Several hours had passed since
they had seized their hostage, a 31-year-old businessman, but neither his
father nor his bride of three months seemed willing to meet their demands.
They did not have the money, they said.

The kidnap gang knew how to make them think again.

First they placed a towel round the hostage’s head so that he could not see
what was about to be done to him. Then they tied him to a chair, binding his
arms by his sides and his feet together until he was helpless.

“Get his parents on the line,” the gang leader ordered.

The father of the hostage — who can be identified only as Joseph — picked up
the phone and heard a torrent of abuse.